BUSY MORNING FOR BAFFERT AS BREEDERS’ CUP NEARS
The blitz towards the Breeders’ Cup continued at mach speed Sunday morning at Santa
Anita as several major players worked for their engagements in the World Championship events at The Great Race Place on Nov. 2 and 3, headed by Classic favorite Game On Dude.
The 5-year-old Awesome Again gelding worked six furlongs in company with stablemate Midnight Interlude and was clocked in 1:12.20 with regular rider Rafael Bejarano in the saddle. Last year’s Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude went in 1:14.60.
“He went really nice,” Bob Baffert said with the emphasis on really, about Game On Dude. “I really liked it. Everything went smooth.”
Asked if Game On Dude was in optimum form for the mile and a quarter Classic, in which he was second to Drosselmeyer last year after leading into deep stretch at Churchill Downs, Baffert said: “He’s been like this all year long. He’s been really good ever since he came back from Dubai.”
Baffert also sent unbeaten Executiveprivilege (Juvenile Fillies) six furlongs in company with Super Ninety Nine. With Bejarano aboard, Executiveprivilege was timed in 1:12, fastest of 21 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:14.93.
“Her work didn’t go as smooth as I wanted it to because she was too far back,” Baffert said. “He (Bejarano) grabbed a hold of her and then she lost interest, but she worked good.”
Super Ninety Nine was clocked in 1:12.80.
Coil and Capital Account, one-two finishers in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 6, also worked in tandem for Baffert, going four furlongs in 46.60 and 46.80, respectively, for the XpressBet Sprint. Coil’s time was the fastest of 45 recorded at the distance, the average time of which was 49.34.
Fast Bullet, unbeaten in two starts but idle since last November, also worked for Baffert, going five furlongs solo in a bullet 58.60, after which the Hall of Fame trainer said Fast Bullet would be pre-entered for the Sprint, giving him three possible starters in the six furlong race. Baffert said Santa Anita jockey leader Joe Talamo rides Fast Bullet in the Sprint.
Pre-entries will be taken Monday, with publication of same next Wednesday.
Also working Sunday at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup were My Miss Aurelia (Ladies’ Classic), winner of the Grade I $1 million Cotillion at Parx, six furlongs in 1:12.40, and Dust and Diamonds (Filly & Mare Sprint), five furlongs in 59.80. “I thought both traveled really well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Both fillies are doing good.”
Elsewhere on Santa Anita’s main track Sunday: Nates Mineshaft (Dirt Mile) went seven furlongs for Richard Mandella in 1:24.60; Commander (Marathon) worked four furlongs for trainer Troy Taylor in 48.60; and John Henry Turf Championship winner Slim Shadey (Turf) went five furlongs in a minute flat for Simon Callaghan.
“The horse worked very well,” Mandella said of Nates Mineshaft, adding that he planned to pre-enter Beholder in both the Juvenile Sprint and the Juvenile Fillies.
Switch (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Lady of Shamrock (Filly & Mare Turf) each worked a bullet on the main track Saturday for John Sadler, going five furlongs in 58.80 and seven in 1:26.20, respectively.
“Both went real well,” the trainer said Sunday morning. “Both had bullets. They’re essentially ready to run.”

CHANTAL SUTHERLAND TO HANG UP HER TACK AS A JOCKEY
Chantal Sutherland will announce her retirement as a jockey in a six-page statement on her website following her ride on Crushin Hard in today’s eighth race at Woodbine, her manager, Angie Stevens, told Santa Anita Publicity late Sunday morning.
“After she rides Crushin Hard at Woodbine she’ll put out a statement,” Stevens said. “That’s about all I can say right now.”
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 36-year-old Sutherland was the first female rider to win the Santa Anita Handicap when she piloted Game On Dude to a nose victory in 2011. She began riding in 2000 and recorded her first win at Woodbine on Oct. 9, 2000, on Silver Bounty.
Sutherland had ridden with regularity on the Southern California circuit the past five years. In 2006 she was named one of People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People.
In 2001 and 2002, she won the Sovereign Award as Canada’s leading apprentice jockey. Her career totals are 931 wins, 930 seconds, 987 thirds from 7,349 mounts, with earnings of $47,285,794.

SHACKLEFORD TO WORK, MEET & GREET WITH TRAINER ROMANS ON SATURDAY
Shackleford, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, will breeze Saturday for the final time in preparation for a start in this year’s Dirt Mile, it has been announced by trainer Dale Romans. A winner of the Preakness Stakes last year and both the Grade II Churchill Downs Stakes and the Grade I Metropolitan Mile Handicap this year, Shackelford has developed an extensive following via social media, according to Laura Herman, a representative of daleromansracing.com.
“We’ve had thousands of requests from people who would like to meet ‘Shack’,” said Herman. “So we’ve decided to do a Meet and Greet this Saturday after he works. He’s supposed to work at about 8 a.m., and we want to invite his fans to come out to Clockers’ Corner and see him on the track. Dale will be making an in-person appearance on HRTV after the work, and at that time he’ll let everyone know what plans lie ahead for Shackleford.”
Santa Anita Park and the Romans stable will then oversee a tour for all those wishing to make the trek to Barn 76 at 11 a.m. Romans will make Shackleford available for photos and will be on hand to answer questions and sign memorabilia until 12 noon. The Shackleford Tour will assemble at Clockers’ Corner prior to 11 a.m.
The public is invited, free of charge, to attend Clockers’ Corner seven days a week. The popular venue offers coffee, tea and a full breakfast menu in a one-of-a-kind setting. Clockers’ Corner can be accessed by entering Santa Anita at Gate 8, off of Baldwin Ave.

WHITE’S TOP 10 BREEDERS’ CUP PERFORMANCES AT SANTA ANITA
With the 2012 Breeders’ Cup World Championships fast approaching, Jon White, who makes the morning line at Santa Anita and provides pre-race television commentary for the track’s simulcast network, has come up with his list of the Top 10 Breeders’ Cup performances when the event has been held at The Great Race Place.
10. Halfbridled’s win in the 2003 Juvenile Fillies. “It was a terrific performance not only by Halfbridled, but also by Julie Krone,” White said. “Krone gave Halfbrided a great ride after they broke from post 14. Julie became the first female rider to win a Breeders’ Cup race.”
9. Lady’s Secret’s win in the 1986 Distaff. “After Lady’s Secret won the Distaff by daylight (2 1/2 lengths), she was voted Horse of the Year. Lady’s Secret won eight Grade I races that year.”
8. Kotashaan’s win in the 1993 Turf. “It really was a fierce battle to the finish between Kotashaan and Bien Bien. Kotashaan also had defeated Bien Bien twice earlier that year. After Kotashaan won the Turf, he was voted Horse of the Year.”
7. Midnight Lute’s win in the 2008 Sprint. “That was truly a remarkable training achievement by Bob Baffert. In Midnight Lute’s only 2008 start before the Breeders’ Cup, he had finished 10th in the Pat O’Brien Handicap at Del Mar.”
6. Lure’s win in the 1993 Mile. “It was a brilliant performance by one of the greatest grass milers in American racing history.”
5. Zenyatta’s win in the 2008 Ladies’ Classic. “Zenyatta defeated five Grade I winners that day, including Ginger Punch, who had won the Ladies’ Classic the year before at Monmouth Park.”
4. Hollywood Wildcat’s win in the 1993 Distaff. “It came down to a dramatic photo finish between two outstanding female Thoroughbreds, Hollywood Wildcat and Paseana, and two outstanding riders at the top of their game, Eddie Delahoussaye and Chris McCarron. Hollywood Wildcat won by a nose, even though Eddie D. dropped his whip in the stretch.”
3. Goldikova’s win in the 2008 Mile. “When a hole opened for Goldikova in the stretch, her burst of speed was absolutely breathtaking.”
2. Manila’s win in the 1986 Turf. “Manila in a thriller won by a neck, defeating such other exceptional grass runners as Theatrical, Estrapade and Dancing Brave. Manila, a 3-year-old, won that race against his elders despite Jose Santos dropping his whip in deep stretch.”
1. Zenyatta’s win in the 2009 Classic. “As Trevor Denman said during his call of the race, it was an ‘un…be…lieve…able’ performance. Zenyatta defeated 11 male foes, including eight Grade I winners. She became the first horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races.“
Without question, Zenyatta’s Classic ranks as one of the three most memorable performances in the history of The Great Race Place, along with Seabiscuit’s victory in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap and John Longden’s win in the 1966 San Juan Capistrano Handicap.”

MGM AND SANTA ANITA OFFER ‘SKYFALL’ SNEAK PREVIEW OCT. 29
MGM and Santa Anita will present an exclusive IMAX sneak preview of the newest James Bond movie, “Skyfall,” on Monday, Oct. 29, in Arcadia at the AMC theaters adjacent to Santa Anita Park. The film does not open in theaters until Nov. 9.
All proceeds from ticket sales for the special screening benefit charities, including CARMA (California Retirement Management Account for retired race horses), the PDJF (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund), and Arcadia's Best Foundation.
The preview is one of many special events scheduled in the lead-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 and 3.
A limited number of tickets to “Skyfall” are available on Santa Anita’s website, http://www.SantaAnita.com, and cost $100. Theater doors open at 4:30 p.m.; the film starts at 5 p.m.
Daniel Craig once again stars as 007 in the 23rd adventure of the longest-running film franchise in movie history.

FINISH LINES: Garrett Gomez, Joe Talamo and David Flores will participate in a brief golf contest on the main track between Sunday’s third and fourth races. Each jockey will hit a shot or two from about 25 yards away to see who can get closest to the "pin" (hula hoop). A representative from the Southern California Golf Association will be interviewed regarding their event in the Infield . . . Exacta-ly like you: Bob Baffert sent out Pink Lollipops and Distracting to finish one-two in Saturday’s first race for a $1 exacta payoff of $5.80, while Doug O’Neill saddled 6-1 winner Lanida and runner-up Promiscuoussuances in the fourth race for a $35.50 exacta. Lanida’s win gave I’ll Have Another’s Kentucky Derby-winning team of O’Neill,
owner J. Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez their second win on the day. They combined for Wittgenstein’s victory at $13.20 in the second race . . . Jockey Efrain Hernandez and trainer Humberto Loma recorded their first Santa Anita wins Saturday when $32.20 longshot Sea Rascal bounded home first in the seventh race. Hernandez, a seven-pound apprentice from Montclair, CA, had 33 wins, 32 seconds and 21 thirds riding mainly at Thistledown, Presque Isle Downs and Mountaineer Park prior to making his Santa Anita debut on Oct. 11. Derek Lawson is his agent. The 32-year-old Loma worked for trainer Steve Miyadi in the Bay Area before going on his own. Sea Rascal was Loma’s first-ever starter at Santa Anita . . . World class agent Ron Ebanks, who resides in Venice Beach, was a visitor to Clockers’ Corner Sunday morning.